Day 30 of National Crochet Month Blog Tour with Crochetville!

Hi everyone! I'm glad you've stopped by to visit. I'm glad to be a part of National Crochet Month's blog tour organized by Amy and Donna from Crochetville, and I'm sharing today with Linda Dean. (You can visit her page here.) Don't forget you can view previous posts by visiting the Crochetville Blog post.

There are many things I love about crochet, but what I truly love is how creative people are with different materials. Pop tabs, plastic bags, and so much more. If it's flexible enough and string like, you can crochet with it. I'm hoping that I can possibly provide a little inspiration for your future projects.

While I was working, a woman came up to me to ask if I've ever crocheted with tulle. At this point I hadn't. (I went home that day to experiment with it though.) This sparked my interest in the many different things that people crochet with - and of course, I had a giant roll of tulle hanging around the house. One day I decided that I wanted to try something else with it, so this is one of the things I came up with.

Free Basic Crochet and Tulle Bracelet Tutorial - Get the tutorial for free!
If the link doesn't work try this link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/basic-tulle-bracelet-photo-tutorial

   

While this bracelet is rather simple looking, it can be a great way to highlight a pretty, decorative button or add flowers, edgings or other adornments to the center of the tulle. You could even add the five petal flower pattern I added a couple of days ago. (Click here to see the free flower pattern.)  You could also use this as a starting point to create unique veils by adding a boarder to a larger piece of tulle. In the next few days, I'll post a couple of ideas for personalizing this bracelet. Be sure to stay tuned.

I'd love to hear about what you come up with. Visit my Ravelry Page to get the free tutorial. 

Through April 6th, you can also get 25% off any pattern in my Ravelry store by entering the promo code: NatCroMo2013.

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Giveaway

Inspired Crochet magazine giveaway!

Two winners will receive a free copy of any Inspired Crochet issue of your choice. To enter to win a copy, simply post a comment on this blog post with an answer to the question: 

Where do you get your crochet inspiration from? 

Comments must be posted by midnight CST on March 31st to be eligible. Winners will be chosen at random and announced April 1st. Winners will need to give me their email addresses, so if you're not comfortable giving me your email address you won't be able to win. 

If you'd like to subscribe to their magazine, they have a current deal: Purchase a subscription for 3 months and get access to ALL of their previous issues! You can subscribe here: http://inspiredcrochet.com/Subscribe

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Other ways to find me: 

Facebook page (Crochet Instructor Kristin Dragos)

Etsy (Kristin's Crochet)

Pinterest (KristinDragos)

You can also sign up for my mailing list by clicking the link at the top of my page. I'll do my best to have mailings out each month (though realistically it may be every other month). I'll be adding free patterns, my tips, tricks, crochet news, as well as information about opportunities to test patterns for me before they are released. 

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

New Pattern Available: Beaded Cluster Bracelet

Here's the other bracelet pattern I've been promising. It's for a beaded cluster bracelet.

The pattern essentially clusters beads into five sections. It also uses the same stitch as my pattern from yesterday. (See that pattern here.) If you have problems figuring out the Solomon's or Lover's knot, you can find a video of it here: Solomon's Knot Video. The video doesn't show the stitch with beads though. I'd recommend practicing the stitch with yarn before working with wire. Removing stitches from wire can be difficult, and if done too many times, it can reduce the integrity of the wire causing it to break. 

You can download the pattern here: download now  

My Crochet Creative Process and Recent Experiments

The past few days I've realized that my creative process is probably not one many people share. When I first started to crochet, I thought about how great it would be to write my own patterns. Of course, I felt that I never knew enough to write any. The more I crochet, the more comfortable I get with experimenting with it. It's that experimenting that leads me to create some of the things I do.

A few years ago and after working with many different patterns, I started noticing a pattern among the patterns I was working. A scarf for example could be worked going horizontally or vertically, or a pattern or repetition of stitches within a pattern could be recalculated to be used in something else. Knowing this, it then becomes about being brave enough to try it. I tell many of my students that with crochet nothing is ever permanent until you've finished it off. With yarn, you can always start a project, do a few rows, experiment a little and rip it all out and start over. (This is a little harder when working with wire.)  If something doesn't work you can try recalculating your pattern or changing your stitch pattern/combination until you find one that works.

Recently, I've been playing with wire crochet and beads. With wire, this process is a little more complicated. The wire might bend making it difficult to take stitches out. If you do manage to take stitches out, you can only work with a section of wire so many times before the integrity of the wire weakens and eventually causes the wire to break. At some point you just have to decide if continuing is worth it, or if you can salvage what you can and start over to try again.

I usually find it easier if I try to draw it out before starting. My husband actually found one of my charts (for a pair of earrings that didn't work out so well) and asked me if I was planning on playing football. It was a bunch of x's for the single crochet stitches and an upside down J at the top to simulate the hook. I also wanted to add beads, so I had some of the x's with squares around them to mark where I wanted the beads. Nonetheless, I thought it was funny that he asked me that. :)

Here are just a few of the things that I've created. In the past few days.

A bracelet using love knots. I'll post the pattern for it soon.

Another version of a bracelet with love knots. I'll post this pattern soon as well.

 Some granny squares that will be earrings when I add them to the earring hooks. I got the idea to try it from a pattern on Ravelry. I added the beads.

Flower earrings, again from a pattern I found from Ravelry.

Wire crochet flower rings. I have yet to actually write this pattern down yet, but it's pretty easy.

Everyone has their own way of doing things. This way has worked for me so far.

New Pattern Available: Filet Chart - Deer in Forest

Recently my mother-in-law came to me with a doily she bought. She asked me if I could make something like it that she could use as a partial curtain/valance type thing. I have never actually made a doily before, but I started looking into filet crochet. I came across this pattern for a stag in the woods.

http://voices.yahoo.com/photos/stag-forest-crochet-filet-free-pattern-5949776.html

After working the pattern out, I realized that it was going to be much to small. (I was using size 10 thread that has a weight of 0 and a size 7 (1.65 mm) crochet hook.) At first I just added a mesh to the sides, but that quickly got boring.

So I decided to add to the pattern and make it wider and a little more detailed. My chart includes two deer and a total of four trees as well as some added plants. I haven't finished working it out yet, but I'll post pictures when I'm done. In the mean time, here's a copy of my chart. 

You can download the pdf of the chart here. download now  

Stitch Pattern: Cross Stitch

This stitch can be complicated when using a short stitch such as the single crochet or half double crochet. I find its easier to work this stitch using double crochet or taller stitches.

To start, you'll chain a multiple of two. When working your rows, skip one stitch and work in the next. Once that stitch is made, you'll work into the stitch you skipped. The next stitch will require you to skip the one you worked into and one more. (i.e. You'll skip two stitches total. One is worked into already.) 

When working this swatch up, I found it more pleasing to add an uncrosssed double crochet stitch on the end of each row. (The chain counts as the beginning double crochet stitch.) This helps keep the ends straighter. Ending a row with a crossed stitch will result in a wavy edge. This is just a matter of personal preference though, so try it both ways.

One of the things that I liked about this stitch is that the pattern creates almost a zigzag pattern as you work your rows. It also creates an interesting texture to the fabric that would be great for creating dishcloths when used with shorter stitches. It would be textured enough to provide a little scrubbing power. 

Recycled rag rug

In my quest to find materials that are "out of the box" I came across this rag rug tutorial. I haven't actually made one, but it's definitely on my list of things to make. I have some old clothes and sheets and such that would be great for this type of project!

http://vintagechica.typepad.com/the_life_and_times_of_thi/2006/10/rag_rug_tutoria.html#

New Pattern Available: Star Trek Science and Medical (Blue) Insignia Pillow

Sorry it's taken me so long, but I finally managed to find time to finish this pattern.

My finished Star Trek Science and Medical Insignia Pillow. 

The full set. 

It took a while to finish each pillow, but I've had a lot on my hooks lately. The color work is the only thing that really takes much time at all. You can download the pattern here: download now  

As always, please let me know if you come across any problems with the pattern and post your pictures of your projects. 

Last minute gifts?

Crocheting just about anything takes time. As the holidays get closer, it becomes more crucial to find things that are really quick to make. Here are a couple of ideas to try.

Lion Brand's 45 minute cowl - That's right! In only 45 minutes you can make this easy cowl! It uses a large (Q) hook, so that takes some getting used to. However, it works up so quickly that it's worth it!

2 Day Afghan - Most people know that a crocheted afghan takes days, weeks and sometimes months to complete. Here's a quick one! (Disclaimer: I haven't tried it yet, but it's on my list next.) The video works you through how to do each step and teaches you a new stitch along the way!

What other patterns have you found that are quick to make? 

Crochet's health benefits

Here's an interesting article published in the Talking Crochet Newsletter.
http://www.crochet-world.com/newsletters.php?mode=article&article_id=2840&key=CWNL

A group in England actually use crochet as an activity for their "Wellbeing Wednesdays." For those of us that crochet, we know that crochet is a relaxing hobby. But not many think about the fact that it keeps our hands busy, which means that we're less likely to be snacking. I know that I tend to eat less when I'm working on a project.
Furthermore, what about smoking? I assume crochet could have similar effects (i.e. helping people quit or smoke less). Since I don't smoke, I am not sure about this one, but it seems like a logical leap to me.

Thoughts?

Stitch Pattern: Sailboats

Here's a fun stitch combination - sailboats. This creates an interesting stitch patterns that might make for a fun blanket or shawl. This pattern creates an almost lacy texture to the yarn. Adding a border of some sort helps to maintain it's shape. I made a square for Warm Up America with this pattern in it. I added a couple of rows of single crochet stitches before and after the pattern, but I'm considering adding a border on the sides to help maintain it's shape even more.


To make this stitch:
Make a chain of a multiple of 6 plus 2. Single crochet in second chain and in each chain across.
Row 2: ch 1, sc in first stitch, [ch 6, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, tr in next ch, dtr in last ch (sailboat made), sk next 5 sc on last row, sc in next sc] across, turn.
Row 3: Ch 5 (counts as first dtr), *sc in next sc at tip of sailboat, ch 4**, dtr in sc between same point and next point, repeat from * across, ending last rep at **, dtr in last sc, turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first dtr, *sc in each of next 4 chs, sc in next sc** sc in next dtr, rep from * across, ending in last rep at **, sc in last st, turn.
Repeat rows 2-4 for pattern.




I can't help but wonder what this pattern would look like if the rows of sailboats were broken up by a wavy ripple to make it look like a boat on water... hmm...

Wire Crochet

Recently, I've had some requests for teaching classes about wire crochet. I haven't done much crocheting with wire yet, so I've started experimenting. Here are just a couple of the things I've made so far.

I look forward to making additional designs with wire!